Still Waters Run Deep

Chapter 11: Mixed Feelings

Chapter 11:

Mixed Feelings

The phone call went to voicemail again. Emily contemplated leaving a voice message, but then decided to hang up at the last minute. This wasn't exactly something she could leave in a message. What would she say?

"Hey, how've you been these days? Wanna help me commit a few felonies? It'll be just like the good old days. Hit me back as soon as you get this."

So instead, Emily hung up in frustration. She considered the possibility that she had the wrong number. After all, she'd been trying to reach her for days with no luck. It was starting to make her antsy. After she'd nearly been wiped out by a damn infection she'd decided she needed to kick things in to high gear.

The first two days after the fever broke were a blur. She remembered Ali being there at the hospital. She'd stayed overnight with her several nights. She remembered puking so often and so violently that she saw blood in the vomit. She remembered being so hot that she felt like her flesh was melting and her insides were liquefying. She remembered feeling like she was boiling inside, but feeling her body shivering outwardly because she was freezing. She remembered everyone trying to bring the fever down with cold compresses and ice water. She remembered how heavy the blankets felt against her skin, how much a tiny amount of pressure seemed to hurt. She remembered screaming so loud that it felt like her head was going to split in two. Only her cries weren't out loud. They were all in her mind.

She remembered thinking she was going to die, she wanted to die. She remembered the doctors and nurses murmuring about her condition and about her odds of survival. She remembered her mom holding her hand. She remembered Ali talking to her, caressing her face, touching her cheeks, and cleaning her sweat off of her skin. She remembered flashes of her doing the same for Ali when she was in labor with the girls. She remembered bits and pieces of the wreck...the worst parts. She remembered seeing things that weren't really there. She remembered Ali telling her she had to beat the infection. But mostly she remembered thinking to herself that if she didn't make it she could never get justice for Grace.

She had almost died twice now. Because of the same person responsible for her daughter's death. When she finally got her bearings she decided that she wasn't going to waste any more time. She made it her priority to get the ball rolling in her own investigation into what had happened the night of the wreck. Unfortunately, she was having trouble contacting the one person she knew could help her. She'd called her several times in the hospital, including the day of her discharge, but she hadn't been able to reach her.

She hadn't had as many opportunities to make secret phone calls since she'd gotten home, as Ali, Lily, Jason, and Pam were always around. Not always at the same time, but the house was particularly full. All of the girls and their husbands and children had been by to visit, too. Normally, she would have been fine with the company, but since she was trying to get in touch with someone that would absolutely raise suspicions, it was a bit inconvenient.

So the first opportunity she had to be by herself she took it. Lily had gone with Fiona and Harper to an art gallery she'd been wanting to go to for months. Aria and Ezra had scored tickets and they bought one for Lily, too. Harper had made a comment about wanting to go, too, so Kai told his parents he wanted to give her his ticket. He thought Lily would have more fun with the girls than with him. Plus, he wanted to stay home and play video games with Eli.

Pam was at a church fundraiser with Ashley Marin and Ashley's boyfriend, Ted Wilson, who was a pastor at the church. Iris, Levi, Hanna, and Caleb were helping out, too. Spencer and Toby were both working late. Jason was getting ready to leave for the airport. He had to catch a flight for work. He was trying to get an Uber, because he didn't have the rental car anymore. Emily suggested that Ali take him so he could save a few bucks.